John Pollock AM has been awarded the 2020 Gatton Gold Medal, after more than 40 years of service to Australia’s regional and rural communities.
Mr Pollock has worked diligently to improve cropping, stock management and resource management, and has been lucky enough to learn from resource management projects all over the world.
His career was fostered at the then Queensland Agricultural College, after completing a Diploma of Agriculture in 1964, before completing a Bachelor and Master of Agricultural Science.
“Gatton College afforded us students an extremely wide range of practical and theoretical skills and learnings, as well as offering lifelong friendships,” Mr Pollock said.
“Meeting with fellow students from all aspects of primary industries – both domestically and internationally – was incredibly instructive, entertaining and rewarding.”
Born and raised in a sugarcane family from Mossman in Far North Queensland, Mr Pollock began his career as a researcher for the Bureau of Sugar Experiment Stations, managing variety improvement programs in Herbert, Burdekin and Central Queensland.
“In the sugar industry, it was great to be able to transform trial fields to accommodate mechanisation of harvesting,” he said.
“It was a formative experience, and it was also extremely satisfying to be working with farmers on variety evaluation.
“And working with a whole host of primary industry stakeholders on the complete supply and production chain was incredibly rewarding, as was facilitating the rapid uptake and adaptation of new technologies.”
Mr Pollock then worked in various sections of the Queensland Department of Premier and Cabinet, before joining the then Department of Primary Industries, where he held several senior roles.
John’s knack for collaboration and pragmatism landed him several senior positions, including Executive Director of Queensland Fisheries, Director of the Queensland Fisheries Management Authority, and Chair of the Sugar Research Australia Research Funding Panel.
After retiring from the public service in 2005, Mr Pollock moved to the Atherton Tablelands, but continues to remain active as a consultant and contractor to state and commonwealth agencies, universities and natural resource management groups.
Mr Pollock hopes his career and expertise can inspire the next generation of agriculturalists and resource managers.
“Agriculture and primary industries are an exciting place to be, it’s a diverse field, with plenty of rewards on offer for those willing to put in the effort,” he said.
“There are a wide range of career opportunities, and the corporate world is becoming a significant player in food production.
“Food security for nations and communities is a looming issue, so informed experts in these fields will become more important than ever.
“Students entering the industry now must understand that good science is the foundation of our continued learning, understanding and development.”
The Gatton Gold Medal (formerly named the Council Gold Medal) has been awarded to UQ Gatton graduates annually since 1984.
The Medal recognises a graduate who has achieved outstanding success or honour in their vocation, and has made or continues to make an outstanding contribution in an area of relevance to the interests of UQ Gatton.
Media: Dominic Jarvis, dominic.jarvis@uq.edu.au, +61 413 334 924.
